Head lamp



HEADLAIP May 6,' 1930. R. N. FALGE 1,757,420

Filedoct. 29, 1927 Patented May 6, 1930 ROBERT N. FALGE, OF DETROIT,MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO PATENT OFFICE GENERAL MOTORS RESEARCH CORPORATION,OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE Haan' LAMP Applicationfiled October 29, 1927. Serial No. 229,684. i

or a shallow annular groove 1n the rim or i constructed to conform witha headlight with a new and flange of the reflector and glue a gasket ofcork or cotton cord or similar material on this shelf or groove inposition to contact the lens, thus providing a sealing cushion bei 10tween the reiiector and lens. The process of manufacture of reflectorsis such that only a shallow groove can be formed for the cord. soshallow that the cord is easily pulled out of its seat and the sealbroken. A particular disadvantage of the cork gasket is that it tends tobecome brittle and often breaks when the lens is removed to change thebulb in the headlight or make some other adjustment or repair.

It isan object of this invention to provide improved sealing connectionbetween the refiector and lens. It is a further object of the inventionto provide an improved gasket for use in this connection, using the lessexpensive materials available for such purposes. It is a further objectof the invention to so construct the adjacent portions of the rim andlens that my improved gasket will be held in place when the lens isremoved for changingthe bulb.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the courseof the follow-- ing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing and appended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a rear view of a separate lens my invention;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the upper portion ofan assembled headlight embodying my invention; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view, partly broien away, of a modifiedform of gasket cor Referring to Figure 3 of the drawing,1have.'i;llustrated a portion of a concavo-convext-eflectorvlO which isprovided with an annular run 1,2, which extends outward in a planeperpendicular to the axis of the reiector. The outer portion of the rimis recessed at intervals to provide countersunk portions 14: aperturedfor reception of fastening screws 16.

The numeral 18 indicates a bullet shaped casing, though my invention is`not limited to any particular shape of headlightl Fitting within therim of the casing is the annular body band 20, fixed within the casingin any usual way, such as by welding. The body band 20 is bent inwardslightly to form an annular shoulder 21, then extends forward and theninward, as at 23, in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the casing 18.At this point the band 2O extends rearward and inward, as at 25, toprovide a support for reflector 10. j

A number of threaded apertures are provided in the portion 23 of theband for receiving the respective screws 16 for adjustably positioningthe reflector l() relative to the casing 18.

The lens, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, comprises a glass disc 24provided with the usual corrugations, though my invention is equallyapplicable with a headlight comprising a fluted reflector' and a plainlens. The lens is formed on the inner side with a groove 26 which issubstantially semi-circular in cross section. The groove extendscomplete- 1y about the lens except for a small plain segment 27 at ,thelower part. Held within the groove and forming a sealing cushion.between the lens and reiiector, as shown in Figure 3, is the gasket 30.

The gasket comprises an ordinary closely woven cotton cord. The gasketmay or may not be glued into place. The cord rests on the surface of therim 12 of the reflector and is compressed slightly when the lens is{ixld firmly in position in the assembled headig t.

The means for holding the lens in position comprises the door ring 34the outer surface of which conforms to the outer surface of casing 18.It may beA noted that the front side of the lens is shaped adjacent therim to provide an annular groove 36, and the door ring is provided withan inward extendnarrower and ing fiange 38 which is crimped rearwardslightly to fit within groove 36. Within the door ring is a reinforcingring 40, which C onforms roughly to the shape of the door ring 34,Reinforcing ring 40 is provided wlth an inward extending-'liangek 42which follows the contour of the door ring flange 38 and contacts withthe forward side of the lens adjacent g ove 36. The axially extendingportion o reinforcing ring 40 is bent outward to contl t with door ring34 as illustrated and ext/ends Hush with the edge of the door ring wherethe ring 40 abuts against the annular shoulder 21 of the body bandv 20.The door ring 34 is held snugly against casing 18 by any usual ordesirable fastening means (not shown).

With the construction just described, the flange on the reflector may becomparatively narrow as the cord gasket is quite narrow and thefastening screws are partially countersunk in the edge. of "the flange.In prior constructions it has been the practice to eX- tend this angeoutward a short distance,l

then bend it rearward and outward for providing a seat for acomparatively large cork gasket. The flange must extend out some`distance still farther beyond the gasket in order to provide a hole forreception of the fastening screw. Myl invention makesY it feasible toprovide a flange on the reflector which is narrower than the flange ofthe conventional reflector by an amount slightly greater than the 'widthhe cork gasket of casing. This permits the makes possible a betterl andmore desirable design of headlamp. These results are obtained by formingthe groove in the lens, which may be readily accomplished. Productionconditions are such with the reliector that only a shallow groove in therim of the reflector ispracticable.

In Figure V4 I have illustrated a modified an more expensive form ofcord gasket. This comprises a helical steel wire 50, such as a pianowire, over which is drawn a cover or sleeve 52 which may be of thincotton fabric. This form retains its shape a little better than theplain cotton' core and tends to remain more firmly seated in the groove26 in the lens. It also permits greater conimerc'ial variations in thespacing between i lens and reector where the latter is fastened to theshoulder on the housing and thereby avoids poor sealing, on the onehand, and, on the other, distorted doors.

I claim:

An automobile headlamp comprising a' casing, a lreiector in the casing,a lens fitted over the rclector'and provided with a peripheral groovefor receiving a sealing-gasket, a gasket in the groove, said reflectorbeing provided with a narrow outturned flange having -length to preventa plane surface adapted to engagethe sealing gasket throughoutsubstantially its entire entrance of dust and moisture, said flange beinprovided with dis continuous countersun t, portions outwardly of theline of contact with said gasket, means engaging, said co'untersun'kportions andthe casing for securing the refiector to the casing, andmeansfor clamping the lens to thel re- Hector andy casing.

In testimony whereof I alx my si ature.

ROBERT N. FATIGE.

